England drop Bell and Anderson

India won the toss and decided to field against England
Ian Bell has been cut from the XI after failing to give England satisfactory starts to their innings

The series is already safely in India’s hands after four dominant performances, but their focus is firmly on a 7-0 whitewash. England have been narrowing the margins of defeat each time, but in truth have only competed on a level playing field for brief periods. There is much for Kevin Pietersen to ponder, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s life is pretty rosy.

England have attempted to shake things up by making two changes for Cuttack, bringing in Alastair Cook and Steve Harmison in place of Ian Bell and James Anderson. This will be Cook’s first game of the series while Harmison is making a comeback after being dropped for the offspinner Graeme Swann in the third ODI. Harmison fared poorly in his two games, taking 1 for 125 at an economy-rate of 7.35 per over.

The switch in fast bowlers was expected after a wicketless four matches for Anderson where he has conceded 158 runs at 6.32 per over, but Bell’s omission is more of a surprise because of the faith shown in him by the England management. However, he too has laboured during the one-dayers and really struggled during the 22-over chase in Bangalore where he managed 12 off 15 balls during the Powerplays.

Cook will be under the spotlight early on after Dhoni put England in, a decision Pietersen called “surprising.” The pressure will be on for the visitors to get away to a positive start, and at least he’ll have a familiar face at the other end in Essex team-mate Ravi Bopara.

India, true to their word, have also made a couple of changes with Irfan Pathan earning a recall in place of Munaf Patel and Rohit Sharma coming back into the middle order as Gautam Gambhir is rested. However, you sense it will take more than a couple of changes to disrupt India’s momentum.

India 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Rohit Sharma, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Yusuf Pathan, 8 Irfan Pathan, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Ishant Sharma

England1 Alastair Cook, 2 Ravi Bopara, 3 Kevin Pietersen (capt), 4 Paul Collingwood, 5 Andrew Flintoff, 6 Owais Shah, 7 Samit Patel, 8 Matt Prior (wk), 9 Graeme Swann, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 Steve Harmison

 

Why only Indians (Gambhir)

In a shocking development, Match Referee Chris Broad (England) banned in-form batsman Gautam Gambhir for one test match for his on-field spat with Shane Watson during the ongoing test match in Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. To add insult to injury, Broad imposed a fine of just 10% of match fee on Shane Watson, although he started the altercation and provoked Gambhir to fall into the trap. He was not even reprimanded.

Match referee Chris Broad (England) favoured Kangaroos while hearing the on-field spat between Gautam Gambhir and Shane Watson. While Chris Broad imposed a fine of 10% of his match fee on Shane Watson, he went on to ban in-form Gautam Gambhir for one test match, who has been tormenting the Australians in the series by his brilliant batting display. The one test match ban means Gambhir won’t be playing in the fourth test match in Nagpur.

Gambhir has already scored one double century, one century and two half centuries in this series. It is shocking that Watson was let off with a mild punishment, even though he started the fight and provoked Gambhir to get into the brawl. It could be an “error of judgement” on the part of Chris Broad or “intentional”. It’s an irony that Indian and Pakistani players are always punished harder than Australians and English players. The Australian players always start the fight, but get away with mild punishment because of these umpires and referees who are always biased in favour of Australians.

It is not immediately known what course of action BCCI will take on this matter. The public sentiment has turned against the Australians and white match officials. Leading Indian cricketers have condemned the ban on Gambhir and ridiculed the 10% match fee fine on Shane Watson. Ironically, Zaheer Khan was fined 50% of his match fee during the Mohali Test for the same offence.

The issue is likely to be snowballed into a major controversy, thanks to irresponsible and biased hearing of a match referee. While nobody gives Gambhir a clean chit, there is no doubt that punishment meted out to him is harsh as compared to that of Shane Watson. In addition, the match referee should have pulled up the Kangaroos for provoking Indian players without any reason. Dear Aussies, play well to win. Sledging and dirty tactics of provocation won’t help you to win against the formidable Indian side. You are no longer World Champion, admit it or not….

 

India Vs. Australia Second Test

SECOND TEST, Mohali: India 469 & 314-3 dec v Australia 268 & 141-5 (day four, stumps) Dates: 17-21 October Start time: 0500 BST each day Coverage: Live text commentary on BBC Sport website

By Jamie Lillywhite

Gambhir played in fluent fashion after passing fifty to put his side on course

Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin shared a defiant 83, but Australia were 375 from victory at 141-5 at stumps on day four. India resumed 201 ahead, Gautam Gambhir firing a second Test century in a stand of 182 with Virender Sehwag (90) and Mahendra Dhoni adding 68no in 84 balls. Dhoni set Australia 516, never chased down before in any first-class match. Matthew Hayden and Simon Katich fell in Harbhajan Singh’s first over, and he ousted Mike Hussey before Ishant Sharma removed Ricky Ponting in the next over. That left the Australians on 52-4 in just the 11th over, after 36 manic minutes. A target of 500 or more has been set on 34 previous occasions in a Test match. Only three times has that resulted in anything other than a defeat – and they have been draws. The ever-combative Hayden did his best to overlook the daunting statistics when Australia began their second innings 40 minutes before tea. India’s batsmen had succeeded in grinding down the tourists but Hayden, more accustomed to applying the mental disintegration than being the victim of it, attempted to bludgeon the dominance away from the bowlers. He launched at the first ball of the innings, which looped to safety over extra-cover, but hit four fours as 49 came in the first seven overs. But Harbhajan came into the attack for the final over before tea and trapped Hayden lbw as the burly left-hander tried to sweep. From the final ball of the session, the usually watchful Simon Katich tried to drive one from out of the rough and spooned to point, where Sachin Tendulkar took a superb catch diving forward, the 99th of his Test career.

Pace sensation Sharma celebrates the key wicket of Ponting in the 11th over

Still the shots continued after the interval, Mike Hussey trying to pull a quicker short one from Harbhajan that had him trapped bang in front, When Shane Watson was trapped on the back pad by the impressive Sharma, there were still 30 overs remaining in the day. Clarke and Haddin played responsibly but will be well aware there is not much batting to follow them on the final day. The day belonged to the bold spirit of India but Gambhir, looking a shade ruffled in the early stages, had added only two to his overnight 46 when he edged prodding forward at Cameron White in the leg-spinner’s first over. Hayden, however, could not cling on to a sharp low chance at slip after the ball ricocheted off Brad Haddin’s pad. That slight hesitancy did not last, and 15 were promptly taken from White’s next over, Gambhir launching a majestic straight drive for six that landed in a moat, rather symbolising the sinking feeling for Australia. There was no reverse swing for the bowlers, but the decision to begin the day with the ineffective Shane Watson and the erratic White was perplexing. Brett Lee was nursing a split webbing on his bowling hand but still took the field, although neither he nor Michael Clarke’s useful slow left-armers were used in the morning session. Sehwag, on his 30th birthday, played some marvellously expansive shots, although he should have departed on 88, umpire Asad Rauf failing to detect a clear edge when the dashing opener cut a wide one from Mitchell Johnson. But Sehwag added only two more before an even thicker edge to the keeper did signal his downfall. Dhoni’s positive intent was demonstrated by his decision to bat at three, and though boundaries were relatively scarce by his standards, his running was inspired, helping him to reach his 11th Test fifty from 61 balls.

606: DEBATE Ponting is being found out as a captain now the cream of the crop have all but gone LB

Gambhir reached three figures with a flick through mid-wicket for four off White, before driving one straight to mid-off in the same over. Hussey, with barely 20 first-class wickets to his name from more than 200 first-class games, was entrusted with eight overs but his military medium-pace merely succeeded in sending down a no-ball and roughing up the wicket, for which he received two official warnings. Lee was introduced to bowl the first over after lunch, but was lashed straight down the ground by Sourav Ganguly, who injured his elbow in a selfless 27. There was still time for the crowd to rejoice in a sumptuous glance off the pads for four by Tendulkar off Lee and Dhoni to take the lead over 500 by thumping White back over his head for six. Any doubts about the timing of the declaration were swiftly cast aside by the dramatic demise of the Australian top order, and barring something truly miraculous, either cricketing or meteorological, India will surely complete victory on the final day.

 

First Test Draw

With the shame performance by Top level batsman India draw first test match against Australia.

Sachin Tendulkar’s dogged innings of 49 out helped India inch closer to a draw against Australia on day five of the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Monday.

Chasing a challenging target of 299 in a minimum of 83 overs, India reached 130 for three in 48 overs to put themselves in a good position to escape with a draw.

VVS Laxman was unbeaten on 28 from 75 deliveries as the two senior batsmen were involved in a cautious 53-run partnership for the fourth wicket that ate up more than 21 overs.

India were in trouble early when they lost the wickets of Virender Sehwag (6) and Rahul Dravid (5) in the first session.

But Tendulkar brought all his experience into play to rescue India as he stitched a 53-run partnership for the third wicket with Gautam Gambhir, who made 29.

Earlier, Australia batted for 32 minutes on the fifth and final day, adding 35 runs in five overs, before declaring their second innings on 228 for six in 73 overs.

Morning session: (76 runs, 3 wickets, 22 overs)

Anil Kumble started proceedings for India and could have taken a wicket immediately, but he dropped a return off the first ball. Haddin mistimed a drive which went straight back to Kumble, who floored and also injured his finger in the process.

Shane Watson then showed his intent with a couple of boundaries and Kumble and Ishant Sharma, before he was dismissed by the latter. The Aussie all-rounder, who made 41 from 72 deliveries, tried to hit Ishant across the line but got an inside edge, which crashed into his stumps.

Cameron White also looked to attack the moment he came in. He drove Ishant for a boundary through the off-side he faced as Australia looked for some quick runs in the morning as India spread the field.

The visitors batted for 32 minutes on the fifth and final day, adding 35 runs in five overs, before declaring their second innings on 228 for six in 73 overs.

Brad Haddin was unbeaten on 35 from 61 deliveries, with three boundaries, while Cameron White was not out on 18 from 14 deliveries, including two boundaries.

Harbhajan Singh took two for 76 in 27 overs, while Zaheer Khan claimed one for 46 in 17 overs.

Anil Kumble disappointed in his last Test match at his home ground as he finished wicketless in both the innings for a match tally of 160 runs in 51 overs.

(India innings)

This was a real chance for India to score an unlikely victory after Australia opted for a sporting declaration.

All depended on the start they got because once the ball gets old, it is very difficult to get the scoreboard moving on this slow pitches.

India openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir look to get on with things early on as both started with boundaries.

Sehwag (5) got a lifeline early when wicketkeeper Hadding dropped him while diving to the right after the batsman got a regulation edge off Brett Lee.

However, Sehwag could not make the most of it as he fell in the very next over for 6. He tried to play Stuart Clark on the leg side but the ball swung enough to beat the shot and take the back of the bat, which went to first slip in the sixth over of the innings.

Rahul Dravid got off the mark with a classical straight drive off Lee in the seventh over of the innings.

But he did not stay on for long, falling to Lee after scoring just five.

The right-hander tried to flick Lee on the leg side, but was caught brilliantly by Ponting diving to his right at short midwicket to leave India in trouble at 24 for two in the ninth over.

Gambhir survived a close stumping chance off Clark, but the third umpire ruled in favour of the batsman in a very close decision.

Sachin Tendulkar made a cautious start but then looked to raise the tempo with a couple of boundaries in Mitchell Johnson’s first over.

India’s hopes would now depend on veteran Tendulkar, who also has the chance to break Brian Lara’s world record for most Test runs.

Tendulkar is currently 48 runs short of Brian Lara’s aggregate of 11953 runs.

At this venue, only two teams out of nine have successfully chased down a target in the fourth innings, the highest being 195 for 2 by Australia in 1998.

Post lunch session: (89 runs, 1 wicket, 31 overs)

India played out a few quite overs after the break till Gambhir broke the shackles with boundaries in consecutive overs off Mitchell Johnson and Michael Clarke.

Johnson had his revenge soon after when he shattered Gambhir’s stumps with a fast yorker.

The left-hander’s long vigil at the crease ended for 29 that included four boundaries in 81 deliveries.

Debutant leg spinner Cameron White came on to bowl in the 36th over to replace part-timer Clarke was not making much of an impact.

He immediately forced Tendulkar to drive at a wide one, which he edged, but fortunately it went over the slip region.

Tendulkar seemed to have learnt from that mistake and after that just concentrated on playing it safe.

VVS Laxman also weathered the initial storm from the pacers before looking at ease against the spinners.

Laxman loosened up before the tea break as he creamed a few boundaries of the two spinners. He hit White for two boundaries in the final over before to bring up the 50-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Tendulkar.

Tendulkar showed great maturity to keep the bowlers at bay as he reached 47 not out with four boundaries in 111 deliveries. Laxman also looked quite comfortable having reached 28 from 75 deliveries, having hit four boundaries.

The hosts need 169 runs in a minimum of 35 overs with seven wickets in hand, but it seems unlikely they would go for the target. Australia still have time in their hand and a few quick wickets after tea could work in their favour.

 

Yusuf and Ojha get maiden call-ups

Yusuf Pathan, a right-hand batsman, and Pragyan Ojha, a left-arm spinner, have been called up to the 15-member squad for the tri-series in Bangladesh and the Asia Cup in Pakistan next month. Dinesh Karthik and Munaf Patel, who played in the CB Series, failed to make the cut. The inclusion of Yusuf, who is the half-brother of Irfan Pathan, was on expected lines after his stand-out performances for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League. He has scored 334 runs at 27.83 from 13 innings with three fifties, and recorded the fastest half-century of the Twenty20 tournament: off 21 balls against the Deccan Chargers. He also took five wickets at 41.60 with his offspin. Ojha was one of exceptions in an otherwise lacklustre performance by his team, Deccan, who lost 12 off their 14 matches. He took 11 wickets at 25.81, and his best figures were 2 for 18 in their IPL opener against the Kolkata Knight Riders. However Venkatapathy Raju, the former India left-arm spinner who is also one of the national selectors, said IPL performances had not carried much weightage in picking the squad. “Our team did well in Australia and we kept in mind injuries to players in our selection”, Raju told Cricinfo. “Murali Kartik was injured and he opted out so we were looking for another left-arm spinner and Ojha’s advantage is his height. He was the selectors’ choice and not a recommendation from the captain.” Yusuf, meanwhile, was a unanimous choice, Raju said, based on his recent performances. Apart from the selectors, Dav Whatmore, the National Cricket Academy director, Gary Kirtsen, the coach, Niranjan Shah, the board secretary, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni attended the meeting. Ojha first came in to the limelight last August when he picked up 22 wickets in India A’s tour of Kenya, including 9 for 85 in a three-day fixture that India won by an innings and 87 runs. In four List A games last season, Yusuf scored 92 for Baroda, while Ojha, picked up six wickets for Hyderabad. Their first-class record was better, with Yusuf getting 441 runs at 44.10 from seven Ranji games and Ojha topping Hyderabad’s wickets list with 24 at 31.87 from six matches. Squad Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Sreesanth, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, Piyush Chawla, Pragyan Ojha.